NDLEA smashes Nigerian-Mexican meth cartel, arrests three Mexicans, others

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has dismantled a transnational methamphetamine production syndicate involving Nigerian and Mexican nationals.

The agency arrested 10 suspects, including three Mexican nationals and the alleged kingpin of the cartel.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Marwa, operatives of the agency’s Special Operations Unit, SOU, carried out coordinated operations in Ogun and Lagos states on May 16, 2026, leading to the discovery and shutdown of what he described as the largest clandestine methamphetamine laboratory uncovered in Nigeria.

The laboratory was located in Abidagba forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State and allegedly operated by the Anochili Innocent Drug Trafficking Organisation.

Marwa said seven suspects were arrested at the forest laboratory, including three Mexican nationals identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, 46; Jesus López Valles, 40; and Torrero Juan Carlos, 51.

The four Nigerians arrested at the site were identified as Nwankwo Sunday Christian, 41; Igwe Abuchi Remijus, 42; Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, 23; and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, 38.

He said another team of operatives simultaneously raided the Lekki residence of the alleged cartel leader, Anochili Innocent, located at No. 8 Tafawa Balewa Street, Golf Estate, Lakowe, Lagos, where he was arrested.

According to Marwa, investigators recovered the international passports and mobile phones of the three Mexican suspects from the residence, linking the suspect to their alleged importation into Nigeria.

The NDLEA boss added that follow-up operations on May 18 led operatives to another property linked to the suspect at Mayfair Estate, Lakowe, where another alleged member of the syndicate, Kingsley Orike Omonughwa, 44, was arrested.

He said operatives also raided the residence of another suspect, Emeka Nwobum, alleged to have operated a stash house for the cartel.

Marwa said the operation resulted in the seizure of 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine and precursor chemicals.

He estimated the street value of the seized substances at $362.9 million, equivalent to about N480 billion.

Items recovered during the operation included a Toyota Tacoma allegedly used for operations at the laboratory and a Toyota Highlander recovered from the kingpin’s residence.

Marwa said the operation followed months of intelligence gathering and warned that the agency would continue to target drug trafficking organisations operating in the country.

He also alleged that some drug cartels had begun recruiting foreign specialists from South America to establish methamphetamine production facilities in Nigeria.

The NDLEA chairman commended the agency’s Special Operations Unit and forensic teams for their role in the operation and urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities in their communities.

“We are fully aware of the shifting tactics of these cartels, including the disturbing trend of hiring South American cartel specialists to set up production factories in our rural communities. Let it be known that no matter how deep into the bush you hide, no matter how secure your gated estate is, the NDLEA will hunt you down, disrupt your networks, and seize your ill-gotten wealth”, Marwa warned.